XVI.
COMPOSITIO REALIS INTER DECANUM ET RESIDENTARIOS ECCLESIÆ DIVI PAULI LONDON, 1554. (fn. 1)
To all true Christen people to whom this present writynge of composition reall, amicable,
accorde, agreement, awarde, and final decree, made and geven the 15th daye of February in the
yere of our Lord God after the computation of the Church of England a thousand five hundred
fiftye and fower, being the first and second yeres of the most prosperous reigne of our most
excellent Lord and Ladye Philip and Mary, &c., shall come or the same shall see, hear, or
read, Edmunde, (fn. 2) by the sufferance of God Bishop of London, sendeth greeting in our Lord
God everlasting. Where in our visitation late begon and exercised within our Cathedrall
Church of Saint Paule in London, and yet there depending, it appeare by sundry comperts
and defects before us exhibited, that before this time diverse and sundry contentions, variances, strifes, and debates have been mooved, stirred, and long time depending between
our well-beloved brethren in Christ Mr. John Fekenham (fn. 3) alias Howman, Batchelour of
Divinity, now Dean of the said Cathedrall Church of Saint Paule, and his predecessors late
Deanes of the same Church of the one partye, and Mr. William Ermesteade (fn. 4) and Mr. Gabriel
Donne, (fn. 5) Canons Residentiaries and Stagiaries of the said Cathedrall Church of the other
partie, as well of, for, concerning, and upon the right, title, and interest of diverse mannors, lands, tenements, portions, duetyes, and rights belonging to the said Church, geving
of benefices, usinge and exercising of offices, ensealing of indentures, exercising of spiritual
jurisdictions and accomptes within the said Cathedrall Churche or belonging to the same Church,
as also of, for, and upon diverse other matters, occasions, and chaunces concerning the order as
well of the said Dean, as of the said Residentiaries, within the said Cathedrall Church, for the
appeasing and qualifying of all which said variances, strifes, and debates, with a final extirpation
of the same, and for a perpetual amitye, concord, and composition hereafter to be had, made,
and inviolably for ever to be kept and observed between the said Deane and Residentiaries and
their successors, both for and concerning the right, title, and interest of the said mannors, landes,
and tenements, portions, dutyes, rights, geving of benefices, exercising of offices and jurisdictions,
sealing of indentures, and yeldinge of accompts, within or belonging to the said Cathedrall
Church of Saint Paul; as also of and for all other manner of matters, causes, variaunces,
strifes, discordes, debts, debates, injuries, trespasses, and demaundes whatsoever heretofore had,
moved, stirred, or depending between the said Deane and Residentiaries, the said parties for
them and their successors, by mediation of our Loving Brother in Christ, Lord Gilbert Bourne, (fn. 6)
now Bishop of Wells, late one of the Canons Residentiaries of the said Church, and of the right
worshipfull Mr. John Tregonwell, Kt., Mr. Nich. Harpesfield, LL.D., Archdeacon of Canterbury (fn. 7) and Prebendary of Harleston, our Chancellour, (fn. 8) John Harpesfield, Archdeacon of London,
Prebendary of Holbourn, Henry Harvey, LL.D., Dean of the Arches of Canterbury, and
Chaunter of the said Church, (fn. 9) Mr. William Cliffe, LL.D., Dean of Westchester, Prebendary of
Hoxton, Anthony Huse, and Robert Johnson, Esqs., have voluntarily and mutually submitted
themselvs for them and their successors, Deans and Canons Residentiaries for the time to come
of the said Church, to stand to, abide, perform, and accomplish such order, rule, direction, and
final composition between them as we the said Edmund Bishop of London their Ordinary
shall and will prescribe, give, pronounce, decree and determine between them for ever,
by them and their successors inviolably to be kept and observed, as by an Act made this
present 15th day of February, registred in the Chapter of the said Church, more at
large appeareth. Know yee that We, the said Bishop and Ordinary, by the advice, counsel,
and assents of the right worshipfull Personages aforenamed, calling before us the said parties
and their Counsellours learned in the Law, having heard and maturely considered the allegations
of both parties, perusing all writings appertaining to the state of their causes, duely and advisedly
pondering the same, after friendly treating and loving communication had and made between the
said parties concerning the premises; the matter with all circumstances on both parts prudently
pondered, heard, and considered, by the express consent and agreement as well of the said Mr. John
Fekenam alias Howman, now Dean, for him and his successours, as also of the said Mr. William
Ermestead and Gabriel Donne now Canons Residentiaries aforesaid representing the whole chapter
of the said Cathedrall Church, have, with the advises, consents and assents aforesaid, ordained,
deemed, pronounced and decreed, and by these presents do ordain, deem, pronounce and decree for
and concerning the premisses in manner and form hereafter ensuing: that is to say, First, where the
said Dean that now is, ensuing the stepps of his predecessors late Deans of the said Cathedrall Church,
pretended the mannor of Sutton (fn. 10) in the county of Middlesex and the mannor of Sandon in the
county of Hertford, with their members and appurtinancys, to be part of the possessions appointed
and assigned as part of the corpes of the said Deanery, and belonging to the Dean as a parcel of
his auncient endowment, which said two mannors upon the sight and search of such writings and
evidences as were producted and shewed to us for and on the behalf of both of the said parties, it
appeareth to us manifestly that the said mannors been no part of the portion of auncient and old
time appointed to the part or portion of the said Dean, but as things incroached by the predecessors of the said Dean that now is by usurpation of his predecessors, and not by any right
that they had or ought to have in them or any of them; and therefore for a plain declaration to
be made what been and shall bee the mannors, lands, tenements, hereditaments, and other possessions appertaining and belonging to the said Dean and his successors, Deans of the said
Cathedrall Church, and which they shall have, hold, and enjoy for their part and portion, and for
their endowment; and what been and have been the mannors, lands, tenements and possessions
appertaining and that of right ought to appertain to the Dean of the said Church and Canon
Residentiaries of the same. We have therefore thought good by this our decree to name and
express them particularly, as ensueth: that is to say, that the said Dean that now is and his successors, Deans of Saint Paul, for ever hereafter shall have and enjoy to them and their successors
all such mannors, personages, mills, lands, tenements, possessions, and hereditaments, with all
and singular their appertinancys, as of old time were appertaining and belonging to the said Dean
and his predecessors of their part and portion of the said Deanery, in as ample and as large a
manner as any Dean of the said Church heretofore hath had and enjoyed the said Deanery, he
keeping no residence upon the same Deanery, according to such graunts as have been made unto
the predecessors of the said Dean, in full satisfaction and recompense of all mannors, lands, tenements, possessions, and hereditaments belonging to the said Dean and his successors, to and for
their endowment in respect of the said Deanery: and also we award, ordain, deem and judge by
these presents, that the said Dean and his successors from henceforth shall not by any manner
of mean or way ask, challenge, or demand any other mannors, lands, tenements, possessions,
or other things being, appertaining, or belonging to the said Cathedrall Church or Corporation of the said Church, but onely the mannors, lands, tenements, possessions, hereditaments
afore expressed; except such other things as shall bee to them assigned and appointed by
this our present writing of award, order, decree, and real composition; and We, the said Bishop,
with the assent and consent of the said Dean and Residentiaries, do ordain and decree by these
presents, that the mannors of Sandon and Sutton aforesaid shall be hereafter always reputed and
taken to be of the Common of the Church of Saint Paul aforesaid incident and appertaining to
the Divident of the Residentiaries and Stagiaries there, in manner and forme ensuing: videlicet,
that the mannor of Sandon, by vertue of this our order and decree, shall wholly and entirely be
and remain to the Common and Residentiaries of Saint Paul and to their successors Residentiaries for ever, without any impeachment or claim of the said Dean of Paules or any his
successors for ever, and that the Dean of Paul's for the time being and his successors for
ever, being in their first Residence called Prima Residentia, shall have and receive for his first
year in money double divident, that is to say, fourscore pounds in money, and no more, without
gift or disposition of any benefice in that first year, or any other commodity, preheminence, or
emoluments other than the said fourscore pounds in money towards his residence; and that the
said Mr. John Fecknam, now Dean and Stagiary Residentiary, and his successors for ever,
being in their second Residentship or Stagiary, shall have, receive, and perceive yearly for
ever, during their Residentiary or Stagiership, double dividents with the said Residentiaries
in all points and degrees of commodities, profits, and emoluments, together with the gifts and
dispositions of benefices, that is to say, double turn as well for benefices in patria as in civitate;
and further shall have, receive, and perceive in part of his said double divident the mannor of
Sutton as it is now in lease, for, and in lieu, and after the rate of 43 lib. by the year, together
with the Rectory and Personage of Cheswyck, and the guift of the Vicarage of Chiswyck,
without any impeachment, disturbance, claim, or contradiction of the said Residentiaries or their
successors, Residentiaries of the said Church, for ever, in full contentation and satisfaction of all
manner of rights, dutys, and claims that the Dean, for the time being resident, may or ought to
have, enjoy, or claim for his or their residence, as in the right of two Residentiaries of five in
number with the said Dean, (fn. 11) and no more to be in number but three Residentiaries, the Dean
being Resident either in respect of his or their Prebend, or in respect of his or their dignity of
Deanery or Deanship of Paules, the corpes whereof known to be certain and distinct from the
Common of the said church. Also, We, the said Bishop, with and by the assent and consent of the said
Dean and Residentiaries, do ordain or decree that the Canons of the said Cathedral Church of Saint
Paul, being resident upon the same, shall discharge the Deans of Paules that shall be hereafter successors to the said Mr. John Fecknam now Dean, against our Sovereign Lord and Lady the King and
Queen's Majesties and their successors, for the first fruits and perpetual tenths of the Mannors
of Sandon and Sutton aforesaid, and also for subsidies so often as the same shall be due; for
that the said Mannors be and stand charged in the King and Queen's recordes of the tenths and
first fruites upon the Dean as parcel of the corpes of his Deanery of Paul's. And further, We,
the said Bishop, by the assent and consent of the said Dean and Residentiaries, do ordain and
decree that when and so often as the lease or term of years of the Mannor of Sutton shall be
expired, or the same come into the hands of the Dean and Chapter of Paul's aforesaid by
forfeiture, surrender, or otherwise, that then the said Mannor so coming into their hands shall
not by them or any of their successors hereafter, by any mean, way, or colour be demised, hired
out, or letten to farme to any person, but shall be and remain onely to the Dean and his
successors Deans, being resident: and he, the said Dean, and his successors to have and enjoy
the same for 43 lib. yearly, as 'tis above mentioned, to his own commodity and profitt, with all
emoluments and other rightes to the same appertaining, without any impeachment, disturbance,
lett, or contradiction of the Residentiaries of the said Church of Saint Paul for the time being.
Provided always, that if the Dean of Paul's for the time being shall not be resident upon his
said Deanery and Residentiary admitted in the said church; that then, such Dean, being not
admitted to residence, shall not intermeddle with the said Mannor of Sutton, or with any part or
parcel thereof, but the same Mannor of Sutton in such case shall be and remain wholly to the
Common and Residentiaries of the said church, anything in this our present award, order, or
composition afore mentioned notwithstanding. And We, the said Bishop, by the express consent,
will, and agreement of the said Dean and Residentiaries, do further ordain and decree, that if
at any time hereafter the Dean that now is, or his successors Deans of the said Cathedral
Church, or any other Residentiaries of the same having entred residence, and during the
said Residence shall happen to be sent over the seas or into Scotland in the King and
Queen's Majesties affairs, that then the said Dean or Residentiaries so being sent over, to
be taken as resident to all respects and purposes, and to have like commodity, profit, and
advantages, and as ample and large portions for their portion and part, as if they were
personally resident of, in, and upon the said church, any matter, clause, article, or sentence
mentioned or expressed in these presents to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.
And further, We, the said Bishop, by the assent and agreement of the said Dean and Residentiaries, do ordain and decree that the Dean of the said Cathedral Church that now is and
his successors Deans shall yearly bear and pay for their portion to them limited and appointed
as well the tenths and other subsidies, dysmes, and taxes granted and hereafter to be graunted to
the Kings and Queens Majestys, their heirs and successors, as the charges of reparations and all
other charges shall grow and be of and upon the mannors, lands, tenements, possessions and
hereditaments appointed and belonging to the part and portion of the said Dean and his successors, being the corpes of the said Deanery, or by occasion and reason of the same. Furthermore,
We, the said Bishop, by the assent and agreement of the said Dean and Residentiaries, do ordain
and decree by these presents that all Præbendaries of the said Church which shall be hereafter
resident in the same for the first year next after their entry (during which year they have been
commonly called Novelli Residentiarii) shall not have for the portion of their residence such like
summ and divident as the Dean and antient Residentiaries shall have, nor shall not, during the
first year after their entry, meddle with the gift of any benefice, or have any course with the
other Stagiaries or antient Residentiaries in the same, but be contented with the summ of 40 lib.
in money, to be paid him by the old Residentiaries in lieu and full contentation and satisfaction
of his first year's residence, without any further claime or demand, any use, custom or statute
heretofore made to the contrary notwithstanding. And where in times past there hath been a
claim of reinception, or a new beginning, for the gifts of benefices at the new admission of any
Residentiary to his first residence or Stagiership, We, the said Bishop, by the assent, consent, and
agreement of the Dean and Residentiaries aforesaid, do ordain and decree by these presents that
from henceforth there shall be no such claim, reinception or new beginning, but that the course
of giving of the said benefices shall proceed in order from Stagiary or antient Residentiary, to
Stagiary or antient Residentiary, untill every of their courses be fully finished, and then to begin
at the eldest and ancient again. And furthermore, We, the said Bishop, by the assent, consent and
agreement of the said Dean and Residentiaries, do ordain and decree that from henceforth all
books of accompts and other muniments concerning the said Church, or any mannor, lands,
tenements and possessions thereof and remaining in the custodies and possessions of the said Dean
and Residentiaries, or any of them, shall be brought and sett in their common chamber, or such
like common place; from whence none shall be taken out of them again, except it be by
the consent and agreement of the said Dean and his successors and the more part of the
Residentiaries for the time being, onely for the common affairs and busieness of the said Church.
Also, We, the said Bishop, by the advice, assent, and consent aforesaid, do further ordain and
decree, that the common and General Receiver of the said Church for the time being, and all
other officers of the same Church having the receipt and payment of any money, shall yearly
make and yield their accompts before the Feast of the Epiphany before the Auditor of the said
Church for the time being, and the same shall be yearly ingrossed and openly declared by the
said Auditor, in the Chapter House of the said Cathedral Church, before the Feast of the Purification of our Lady then next ensuing, before the Dean for the time being, and the other Residentiaries of the same Church; and that they, and every of them, shall be there to hear the said
declaration, except they be lett by the King and Queen's Majesty's commandment, imprisonment, or else by sickness; and furthermore, that the Chapter-Seal of the said Dean and Chapter
and Sigillum ad Causas shall remain and be in one little coffer locked with three locks; whereof
one key to be in the custody of the Dean for the time being, and the two other keys to remain in
the custody of the two eldest Stagiaries or antient Residentiaries of the said Church: and this
little coffer with the seal to remain in one great Chest to be locked with three keys, whereof one
key to remain with the Dean, and the other two with two eldest Residentiaries for the time
being: and if it shall happen that the Dean or any of the Residentiaries having in their keeping
any of the said keys do depart and goe out and from the City of London, that then he so departing shall leave the key so remaining with him with one Residentiary, being in the City of
London and next in antienty to him, having no key; and for lack of one of the Residentiaries,
then to leave the same key with his Chaplain, to have and keep the same key for the ensealing of
such writings as shall be agreed and consented upon till his next return and coming again to the
said City, and then to be delivered again to him that so delivered the same key. And also, We, the
same Bishop, by the assent, consent, and agreement of the said Dean and Residentiaries, do
ordain and decree that such Ecclesiastical Jurisdictions as do appertain and belong to the said
Dean and Chapter to be exercised in all outward matters by the Dean (if he be Resident) and
one of the Residentiaries, and that the deputation of their Commissary for that purpose shall be
by the Dean and more part of the Residentiaries: and that the Dean and Chapter shall have
correction of the Ministers of the Church (except the Canons Residentiaries) in the Chapter
house or Vestry de consilio Residentium; but not to correct any of the Canons Residentiaries
without the assent of the more part of the Chapter. And if the Dean keep no residence and abide
three miles from the City of London, that then the eldest Residentiary present to have like
authority for the exercise of jurisdiction in the Chapter-house or Vestry, and all other jurisdiction
appertaining to the said Dean and Chapter, as to the Dean is afore appointed; and that the Clerk
which doth enrole their Indentures and Chapter acts, to bring in once in two years his book in
parchment fair written of all such things as have passed his said office; and also that there shall
be one made before the feast of Saint John Baptist next coming after the date hereof, of all such
jewels, copes, cope-money, and other ornaments belonging to the said Church, for the same to be
put in one book to remain among other muniments, to be once yearly perused and conferred
between the Feasts of All Saints and the Purification of our blessed Lady Saint Mary the Virgin,
by the Dean and two eldest Residentiaries there for the time being. And further, We, the said
Bishop, by the assent, consent, and agreement of the said Dean and Residentiaries, do ordain and
decree, that if at any time hereafter it shall fortune any ambiguity, doubt, or question to rise or be
moved in or upon this our present agreement, order, decree, and composition real, or of and upon
any sentence, article, word, or matter contained in the same, that then the said ambiguity, doubt,
or question to be expounded, interpreted, judged, or determined by us the said Bishop and our
successors Bishops of London, the Archdeacon of London and the Chanter of the said Cathedral
Church for the time being, and four of the eldest Canons of the same Church being not resident,
or two of them at the least, without any further suit, appellation, complaint, or quarrel be
made in that behalf. And further, We, the said Bishop, by the advice, assent, and consent aforesaid, do ordain and decree that a solemn Chapter Act (fn. 12) shall be made upon this our order,
decree, and composition, the same to be enacted in the Register of the said Chapter, and to be
sealed as well with the seal of us the said Bishop, as also with the Chapter-seal of the said Dean
and Chapter, and with their seal called Sigillum ad Causas, and also with the Dean's seal of
office: the one part of the same decree and composition so sealed to be put in their treasury
there to remain and be kept among other records and muniments of the said Church; and the
other part or counterpane of this our said composition and decree likewise sealed to remain
with us the said Bishop in our Register and Records. And further, We pronounce, award,
decree, and judge, that as well the said Mr. John Fecknam, now Dean, as the said Mr.
William Ermesteade and Gabriel Donne, Residentiaries, shall give a corporal oath upon
the Evangelists, well and truely to observe and keep this our order, agreement, and
mutual composition during their times. And that every Dean and Canon of the said
Church entring into their first acte and admittance of Residence shall swear upon the Evangelists in the Chapter-house well and truely to observe, perform, and keep this our present
agreement, order, or composition during his or their Residence in the said Church, bonâ fide,
according to the true, simple, and literal sense and meaning of the same. Also, We, the said
Bishop, do further ordain and decree that all such benefices and promotions as shall be given
hereafter by the Dean or Residentiaries of the said Cathedral Church by their course, shall be
given under their seal called Sigillum ad causas. Finally, We, the said Edmund, Bishop and
Ordinary aforesaid, by like advice and counsell, as well of the worshipfull, learned, and discreet
personages first above named, as by the express consent and assent of the said Dean and Canons
Residentiaries for them and their successors, do award, judge, deem, pronounce, and decree by
these presents firmly for ever to be observed, that all former statutes, customes, uses, prescriptions, or usages of the said Church of Saint Paul, written or not written, sworne or not
sworne, observed or not observed, which bee or shall seem to be repugnant, contrary or noncompatible with this our order or composition real, or of any article, clause, matter, or sentence
comprised within the same, or any article or part of it, from henceforth shall be reputed, taken,
or accepted for repealed, frustrate, void, and of no effect to all intents and purposes: and this
our present real composition onely to stand and abide in full force and effect between the said
Dean and Residentiaries and their successors for ever. In witness of all which premises well
and truly of all parts to be observed, performed, and kept, in manner and form before expressed,
as well We, the said Bishop, to this our present order, decree, and real composition, have sett our
seal, as also the said Dean and Chapter to the same have sett their Chapter seal, together with
their seal called Sigillum ad Causas, and the seal of the office of the said Dean, with the
subscription of our proper hands. Given the day, month, and years above written, being the
sixteenth year of our translation.
Die Sabbati, videlicet quarto die mensis Maii, anno Domini 1555, in domo Capitulari Ecclesiæ
Cathedralis Divi Pauli London, coram venerabilibus et eximiis viris Magistris Johanne Fecknam,
Decano, Willielmo Ermestead, et Gabrieli Dunn, (fn. 13) Canonicis Residentiariis et Stagiariis Ecclesiæ
Cathedralis Divi Pauli prædicti, Nicholas Harpesfield, Legum Doctore, Præbendario Præbendæ de
Harlston in eadem Ecclesia, ac Vicario in Spiritualibus Generali Reverendi Patris Domini
Edmundi, London Episcopi, et Thomæ Baugh Cancellarii Ecclesiæ prædictæ, (fn. 14) in præsentia Francisci
Harward, Notarii Publici, deputati magistri Roberti Johnson, Registrarii pro juribus Domini
Episcopi London, et mei, Johannis Incent, Notarii Publici, deputati magistri Antonii Huse, Clerici
Capituli, introducto per eundum Franciscum Harward, supra scripta compositione, concordia, sive
finali decreto in pergameno dupliciter scripto, ac per eundum magistrum Nicholaum Harpesfield
publice prælecto, post charitatem et communicationem inter dictum Decanum, Residentiarios, et
cæteros prænominatos aliquandiu amice habitam; tandem dicti Domini Decanus et Residentiarii
prænominati consensum et assensum suos et expressos unanimiter et concorditer (nullo eorum
contradicente aut discrepante) eidem prebuerunt et exhibuerunt. Et tunc idem Magister Nicholaus
Harpesfield, Vicarius in Spiritualibus Generalis antedictus, tam eundem Magistrum Johannem
Fecknam, Decanum, quam antedictos Magistros Willielmum Ermestead et Gabrielem Donne,
Canonicos Residentarios, juramento oneravit ad Sancta Dei Evangelia per eos corporaliter tacta,
de fideliter observando et perimplendo dictam compositionem, concordiam, sive finale decretum,
quatenus eos respective concernit, durante tempore Residentiarum suarum aut eorum alicujus in
eadem Ecclesia Cathedrali; et ulterius ordinatum et concessum est per dictos duos Residentiarios,
quod præfatus Mr Johannes Fecknam, Decanus, non sit quovis modo impeditus, disturbatus, seu
inquietatus pro aliquibus pecuniarum summis pro manerio de Sandon per eum hactenus habito et
percepto, vel pro aliis actis quibuscunque dictum manerium concernentibus per ipsum Dominum
Decanum antehac factis et commissis: sed ab iisdem penitus et omnino acquietatus erit et
exoneratus in perpetuum. Quibus omnibus et singulis præmissis, sic, ut præmittitur, gestis et
expeditis, præfati Magistri Johannes Fecknam, Decanus, Willielmus Ermestead, et Gabriel
Dunne, Canonici Residentiarii, contulerunt se ad vestibulum Ecclesiæ Cathedralis prædictæ, ubi
dictam compositionem sive decretum in pergameno, ut præmittitur, dupliciter scriptum, tam
magno sigillo suo communi, quam sigillo ad causas, ac etiam sigillo officio dicti Domini
Decani munierunt, ac in vestibulo prædicto sub custodia Magistri Willielmi Stickett, Sacristæ,
dimiserunt usque ad, et in, diem Sabbati, videlicet, decimo octavo die præsentis mensis Maii
fideliter custodiendum, et quod tunc producatur coram Domino Episcopo London in domo Capitulari prædicta, ut sigillo suo Episcopali etiam muniatur.